An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

A device for generating bubbles, comprising a porous material having at least one hydrophilic surface (1), arranged such that a liquid (7) in which the bubbles (6) are intended to be formed may contact the hydrophilic surface (1) and at least one hydrophobic surface (2), arranged such that a gas (5) used to generate the bubbles (6) may flow past the hydrophobic surface (2) before it flows past the hydrophilic surface (1). The device may be used for creating fine bubbles in numerous applications, such as wastewater treatment, plant cultivation, aquafarming, aeration systems, bioreactors, fermeters, oil extraction or fuel cells.

A redox flow battery and battery system are provided. In one example, the redox flow battery includes a cell stack assembly interposed by two endplates and comprising a plurality of mated membrane frame plates and bipolar frame plates forming, at a mated interface, a plurality of negative and positive flow channels configured to distribute negative and positive electrolyte into a plurality of bipolar plates. In the battery a membrane is coupled to each of the plurality of membrane frame plates and positioned sequentially between two of the bipolar plates included in the plurality of bipolar plates.

A data communication device includes a battery having a first flowable electrolyte. In some embodiments, the battery is a redox flow battery (RFB) or a hybrid RFB. A first channel contains the first flowable electrolyte of the battery (i.e., contains at least a portion of the first flowable electrolyte). The first channel may include a tube and/or a reservoir. At least a portion of the first channel may be flexible and/or stretchable. The first channel has a first electrode configured to impart and/or receive a first electrical signal in the first flowable electrolyte. The first electrical signal may be a digital signal. The first electrical signal may be an encoded signal. The device may include a transceiver in electronic communication with the first electrode.

A data communication device includes a battery having a first flowable electrolyte. In some embodiments, the battery is a redox flow battery (RFB) or a hybrid RFB. A first channel contains the first flowable electrolyte of the battery (i.e., contains at least a portion of the first flowable electrolyte). The first channel may include a tube and/or a reservoir. At least a portion of the first channel may be flexible and/or stretchable. The first channel has a first electrode configured to impart and/or receive a first electrical signal in the first flowable electrolyte. The first electrical signal may be a digital signal. The first electrical signal may be an encoded signal. The device may include a transceiver in electronic communication with the first electrode.

In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths.

In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths.

A redox flow battery system includes an anolyte having chromium ions in solution, wherein at least a portion of the chromium ions form a chromium complex with at least one of the following: NH.sub.3, NH.sub.4.sup.+, CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2, SCN.sup.−, or CS(NH.sub.2).sub.2; a catholyte having iron ions in solution; a first half-cell including a first electrode in contact with the anolyte; a second half-cell including a second electrode in contact with the catholyte; and a first separator separating the first half-cell from the second half-cell.

A redox flow battery system includes an anolyte having chromium ions in solution, wherein at least a portion of the chromium ions form a chromium complex with at least one of the following: NH.sub.3, NH.sub.4.sup.+, CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2, SCN.sup.−, or CS(NH.sub.2).sub.2; a catholyte having iron ions in solution; a first half-cell including a first electrode in contact with the anolyte; a second half-cell including a second electrode in contact with the catholyte; and a first separator separating the first half-cell from the second half-cell.